Its first appointed advisory
committee -- the Advisory Committee on Decedents Estates Laws. (ACDEL) -- was established in 1945. Since then, the
"Advisory Committee has generated more than 40 reports that have served
as the basis for legislation introduced during numerous legislative
sessions of the General Assembly", which have improved Pennsylvania law in Title 20 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes (the
Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries Code -- "PEF Code") and related statutes.

The Report provides not only a history of ACDEL, but also a compiled reference of its work products, developed by various JSGC ad hoc study groups, legislative resolution task forces, and the standing ACDEL. Such groups have analyzed, drafted, reviewed, revised, and recommended statutory law in the Commonwealth for the past sixty-eight years.

This report first recounts the purpose of 1945 Senate Resolution No. 46, which authorized the Joint State Government Commission to form a legislative task force and advisory committee to review decedents’ estates laws.

This is the Report's Summary of its contents:

The section titled The Task Force and Advisory Committee on Decedents’ Estates Laws also discusses the membership and leadership of the Task Force and Advisory Committee and outlines the process used to develop statutory recommendations. Finally, that section summarizes the projects of the Advisory Committee from 1945 to 1972, the codification of the PEF Code (including the original chapter organization of the PEF Code), and proposed legislation since 1972.

The next section, Advisory Committee Reports, lists all 43 published reports of the Advisory Committee since its creation. Numerous reports published after the 1972 codification contain proposed omnibus amendments to the PEF Code and, in some instances, to other titles of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. Other reports focus on one particular topic, such as guardianships, powers of attorney, or trusts.

The list of Advisory Committee reports is followed by Proposed Legislation Organized by Advisory Committee Report. This section details the contents of each report and provides the specific section and subsection that is the subject of the proposed amendment or repeal or that is newly proposed. The reports are listed in reverse chronological order.

The next section, Proposed Legislation Organized by Statutory Section, comprehensively lists each specific section and subsection to which the Advisory Committee has made a recommendation. It then summarizes the nature of the recommendation (proposed amendment, repeal or addition) and the report containing the recommendation. Of note is that, in a number of instances, the Advisory Committee has revisited the same provision over the years, and several reports capture the multiple or recurring recommendations.

The section that then follows is Proposed Legislation Organized by Legislative Session. Listed here are each bill introduced that is based on the recommendations of the Advisory Committee, along with the relevant provisions included in the bill and a summary of the disposition of the bill. If the bill was enacted, the act number and enactment date is provided. In two instances, a bill containing the Advisory Committee’s recommendations was vetoed by the Governor, despite having passed both chambers of the General Assembly unanimously.

The next section of this report provides a detailed table of contents for the PEF Code, as it was enacted in 1972.

Finally, this report contains a list of the Advisory Committee Chairs and Advisory Committee members, with dates of service and county of practice.

The Report itself is impressive in its sweep and detail. But the story of passion and perseverance that it implies -- if you can read between the lines (because this is not pulp fiction) -- is even more impressive.

Consider that, since 1945, only 110 volunteer experts spread over 68 years -- many devoted until only death ceased their efforts -- donated their time, expertise, experiences, intellect, skills, and visions to suggest statutory frameworks that still evolve today. Presently, the ACDEL has 34 members appointed by the Legislature, in roles either as lawyers or judges, serving pro bono.Their work addressed the most difficult issues in human experience and the most fundamental laws affecting everyone -- disability, incapacity, death, reproductive technology, surrogate health care management, fiduciary administrations, and end-of-life decisions.

The current supervising Legislative members of JSGC are listed. All volunteer members of the ACDEL since 1945 were named. The current supporting staff are listed, but past staff are not. All were devoted to their craft.JSGC-ACDEL produces studies and makes recommendations that are non-political, independent, expert, comprehensive, and reliable, in a cost-effective process. In this time of reduced funding and personnel, this organization is beyond special -- it is amazing.

The Joint State Government Commission is a one-of-a-kind blessing to this Commonwealth that, hopefully, will continue its work long into the future.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

After laying off for the Summer (and much of the Spring) as a blogger, I am resuming, coincident with my teaching of "Elder Law & Practice" at Widener University School of Law, beginning this evening. This is my welcome message to the students.

This program, conceived and implemented in 2003 by the Neighborhood Legal Services Association, is intended "to deliver important information on legal issues affecting older adults, their care givers and their families." As a national template, it is "a free program set up in a seminar style where local state legislators and volunteer attorneys give information on these matters of special importance."

The materials for each Older & Wiser® seminar have been developed by Managing Attorney Joseph M. Olimpi and private attorney volunteers. Each Older & Wiser® seminar is presented by a pro bono attorney who provides an informative overview of a particular legal issue, followed by a question and answer period.

Current session topics include:

Protection through Powers of Attorney and Living Wills

Dealing Effectively with a Healthcare Facility

Guarding Against Senior Fraud

Understanding Retirement Benefits

Learning about Last Wills and Living Trusts

Avoiding Missteps in Medicaid

Predatory Lending and the Elderly

At each presentation, handouts and brochures are available to take home. Appropriate referral information is given if attendees are in need of direct legal services. For those attending who are income eligible, there are reduced fee and free of charge services available to meet your needs.The goal of the Older & Wiser®Program is to provide information that will assist older adults and their families in making wise decisions that protect them and the things they own. Everyone who is interested is welcome, regardless of age, and the seminars are offered free of charge.

In an announcement to its membership on August 21, 2013, describing "anotherpro
bono opportunity for Dauphin County Bar Association members", implementation in Central Pennsylvania was described:

The Older & Wiser® Program
is a way to deliver important information on legal issues affecting older
adults, their care givers and their families. It is a free program set up in a
seminar style where local elected officials and volunteer attorneys give
information on these matters of special importance.

Legal services and private
attorney volunteers have prepared all the materials for each Older & Wiser®
seminar (a Power Point presentation, handouts and brochures) for you.
Each Older & Wiser® Power Point Presentation is presented by a pro bono attorney who provides an informative overview of a particular legal issue, followed by a question and answer period.

PA EE&F LAW BLOG

To access the home page of (and many other postings on) the PA Elder, Estate & Fiduciary Law Blog, click here, or click the title bar & description at the top of this page. UPDATES at the end of postings add more current related material; and LABELS (listed below) characterize posts by subject matter.

PA REGISTERS OF WILLS WEBSITES

This list of PA Registers of Wills websites, by county, was compiled by Daniel B. Evans, Esq., of Philadelphia, PA. His complete online list of Registers of Wills includes addresses and links for fee schedules & forms, where posted.

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